USA wins Brazil-USA Challenge to qualify for 2009 Men's Worlds

(STEVENS POINT, Wis.) - The Todd Birr rink defeated Brazil's Celso Kossaka rink in three straight games to earn the final North American berth for the 2009 Ford World Men's Curling Championship on Saturday night at the Capital Curling Club in Bismarck. N.D.

Brazil issued the first-ever challenge from a South American nation this summer against the United States for the berth. Birr (Mankato, Minn.) and teammates Paul Pustovar (Hibbing, Minn.), Greg Wilson (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and Kevin Birr (St. Peter, Minn.) defeated the Brazilians in a best three-out-of-five competition by scores of 13-2, 13-2 and 11-5.

Twelve teams compete at both the men's and women's World Curling Championships each year. Two teams represent the Americas Zone, encompassing both North and South America. Since the inception of the world championships, the only two World Curling Federation member associations to represent the Americas have been Canada and the United States. Canada, winner of both the 2007 and 2008 world men's titles, has qualified for the 2009 Ford Worlds in Moncton, Canada in April.

USA Curling is sponsored by AIT Worldwide Logistics, Kodiak Technology Group and Nike.